AN to contest all districts

Azzjoni Nazzjonali is contesting all 13 districts, with 12 candidates, in the March 8 general election.

The candidates were briefly introduced and submitted their candidature at Evans Building in Valletta yesterday.

AN leader Josie Muscat said he considered it an achievement that his party, which had only entered the political scene seven months ago, was contesting on every district.

Taking down the candidates' names and asking them their occupations in the shelter of the Mediterranean Conference Centre before crossing over to Evans Building to submit their candidature, Dr Muscat told the press they covered a wide spectrum of workers "as we want to be close to the people and with our feet on the ground".

They include an economist, an accountant and financial, operations and IT consultants, among others.

The AN candidates include project manager Paul Salomone, who is contesting the first and 12th districts. One of the founder members of AN, he resigned from his post as spokesman for Alleanza Nazzjonali Repubblikana, of which he was also a founder member, to dedicate himself to the AN cause.

Kenneth Zammit, self-employed, is contesting the second and third districts, while operations manager Malcolm Seychell is on the fourth and eighth.

IT consultant John Spiteri is contesting the 11th district; Antonio Bartolo, an activity organiser at Zammit Clapp Hospital, the 11th; financial consultant Charles Attard , the sixth and seventh; economist Philip Beattie, the ninth and tenth; accountant Tonio Mercieca, the fifth and ninth; and Gozitan EU programmes manager Mary Gauci, the only woman, on the 13th.

Pierre Cutajar is contesting the second and third districts, as is Dr Muscat, while deputy leader Anġlu Xuereb, whom he described as a top entrepreneur, will be standing for the 11th and 12th.

Dr Muscat said AN was not being backed by any businessman, which meant the party kept clean and was under no obligation to anyone, except to the Maltese and Gozitans.

The candidates were among the many who wanted a change in the political system, Dr Muscat said, adding that there were many others who shared AN's thoughts but, unfortunately, kept back from contesting.

Dr Muscat said he had "big" faith in the March 8 election result, although AN was not expecting to take over the government.